CAARE E-News January 2018

Did you know that federally funded animal laboratories operate under the concept of “enforced self-regulation?”According to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare: “Once an institution has prepared an Animal Welfare Assurance and the Assurance has been approved by OLAW, the institution is in a position to regulate itself.”

As disturbing as that may be, new efforts by the animal research industry are seeking to cut back on current limited oversight. Citing language in the 21st Century Cures Act, which directs administrative agencies to “reduce the regulatory burden on researchers,”they are calling for fewer inspections of animal labs and possibly evens self-inspection.

From self-regulation to self-inspection, what’s next? It’s clear that they wish to maintain a hands-off policy regarding any sort of regulation.

CAARE believes the tax-paying public has a right to know about the animal experiments it funds. In the coming months, we will be paying close attention to this situation and opposing any such efforts by mobilizing you, our supporters, to speak out.

For the animals,Barbara StagnoPresident, CAARE

CAARE appeals SUNY denial for information on cat experiments

Since 1985, the National Eye Institute has awarded millions in federal grants to fund highly invasive experiments on the brains of cats to study visual neurons. The State University College of New York (SUNY) Optometry has been the site of these experiments since 2002. CAARE has been investigating these horrific experiments that cut up and probe the brains of living cats and kittens, calling for an end to thirty years of shocking research.

Last month, SUNY denied CAARE’s Freedom of Information request for access to internal records with details about the experiments. CAARE has retained an experienced law firm to file an appeal.

Report from UK Biotech industry calls for greater focus on human data

According to a new report from the UK, it’s essential to “humanize” drug development to enhance productivity. The report, compiled by the BioIndustry Association and the Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC), concludes that the current crisis in successful drug development is due to relying on inapplicable animal experiments, rather than focusing on human data.

“Discovery must start with biological targets derived from patient data and samples, which create candidate drugs that are highly selective for proven human disease targets in well-defined patent subgroups, not animal models,” said Chris Molloy, chief executive of the MDC, based at Alderley Park, Cheshire.

The report highlights using human stem cells for their ability to create advanced cell cultures and organoids, which can model specific human diseases, rather than failed attempts to recreate them in animals.

Their Expressions Say It All

Italian photographer Rachele Totaro recently documented the reactions of mice and rats who were liberated from life in a laboratory. Italian law encourages the release and adoption of animals used in experiments, including small mammals like rats and mice. This is unlike the U.S., where these species do not even receive legal protection.

The photos tell a moving story of these animals’ ability to delight in love and freedom. Says Totaro: “They all acted differently when they were taken outdoors and showed once again that they are not mere numbers, as they are considered in laboratories, but individuals with attitudes and personalities.”

CAARE earned acceptance by Global Giving in 2017 for being a trusted partner and change-maker in the world.